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This Peppermint Mocha Tallow Sugar Scrub smells like your favourite holiday drink and leaves your skin soft, hydrated, and glowing — naturally. You can choose to make this a peppermint cocoa recipe (skipping the coffee) or a full peppermint mocha scrub for extra exfoliation. The possibilities are endless with this delightful DIY tallow sugar scrub.
Made with grass-fed tallow, coffee, cocoa powder, and a hint of peppermint essential oil, this simple recipe leaves your skin soft, glowing, and hydrated — no lotion needed. Perfect for self-care or a thoughtful homemade holiday gift!
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I am not a medical professional and this should not be taken as medical advice. Always consult a physician before use and do a patch test. To learn more click here.
Let’s get into this DIY tallow sugar scrub!
Table of Contents
New to working with tallow?
Why use tallow in a sugar scrub
Tallow is one of nature’s best-kept skincare secrets. Rich in vitamins A, D, E, and K, and full of skin-loving fatty acids, grass-fed tallow deeply moisturizes and supports your skin barrier without clogging pores.
In this sugar scrub, tallow replaces synthetic butters and oils, giving you a deeply nourishing exfoliant that melts right into your skin. It’s especially ideal for dry, winter skin or anyone looking to simplify their routine with clean, whole ingredients. It leaves your skin so soft and silky that you don’t even need a moisturizer after!
If you do want to use a tallow whip, check out this gingerbread tallow whip which is perfect for the holidays- self care or gifting!
Tools you need to make tallow scrub
You will only need a handful of tools to make this sugar scrub
- A heat proof bowl: I typically like to use metal bowls (The white bowls photograph better)
- A kitchen scale: It works so much better than measuring spoons to avoid a bunch of oily dishes and have a consistent product
- A spatula: to scrape the edges and mix
- A hand mixer: if you want a whipped sugar scrub
- Some cute airtight jars: to store the scrub in and add a rustic vibe to your gift. I love the new “For Jars” mason jars. Use code “CALM10” at checkout for 10% off.
The tallow scrub recipe
62 grams of tallow (learn how to render your own here)
62 grams of coconut oil
*Note: You can also swap the coconut oil for cocoa butter for even more chocolatey goodness!
15 grams of a liquid oil (olive, jojoba, sweet almond etc)
310 grams of brown sugar(sub for whatever sugar you have on hand!)
30-45 grams of white sugar (sub for more brown if you want!)
1 tsp cocoa powder
No more than 1% the total weight of the oils with peppermint essential oil. For this batch it would be 1 gram. You should not need more than a few drops.
Optional: 2 tsp very fine ground coffee grounds (must be very dry or they will mold!)
How to make the scrub
This scrub is super simple to make and will fill approximately 5, 4 ounce mason jars.
- Weigh out your tallow, coconut oil or cocoa butter and liquid carrier oil in a heat proof bowl.
- Place it on a double boiler over low heat. You want this to gently melt down. If you are infusing your tallow with mint, add it now. To infuse your tallow with mint, allow it to stay warming on the double boiler for approximately 2 hours. (To learn other methods of infusion, check out this blog post.)
- Strain out the mint (I like to use the spatula to push the leaves off to the side and scoop them carefully with a paper towel to avoid extra dirty dishes to wash.)
- Allow the oils to come to room temperature and then add the sugar, cocoa powder and essential oils. If you want a whipped sugar scrub, allow the oils to harden in the fridge first and then whip them up with a hand mixer before adding the other ingredients.
- Combine everything and then scoop in into your airtight container.
- Add your label or ribbon and you are ready to use it!
How to use the scrub
As much as I would love to leave my scrubs in the shower for quick use, getting any water in your scrub will cause it to melt away, go goopy or rancid. Because of this, I keep my scrub under my cabinet sink and pull it out before a shower. I have a designated shower spoon that scoops a small amount up to bring with me in the shower. This keeps all the moisture out prolonging the shelf life of my scrub!
How to gift this scrub
This scrub makes a beautiful handmade holiday gift! Scoop into small glass jars, add a festive label or ribbon, and include a tag with simple use instructions. You can also include a gorgeous wooden spoon for extra luxury!
Pair it with your Gingerbread Whip or Citrus Pine Lip Balm for a cozy, all-natural self-care gift set.
FAQs
What if I don't want to use essential oils?
No problem at all! You can infuse your tallow with dried peppermint leaves instead. The scent will be very subtle so feel free to skip the cocoa powder and coffee.
To add some allure, you could add some red mica powder to half the batch and layer it for a gorgeous effect!
Will this clog my drain?
When following proper use, this sugar scrub should not clog your drain. That being said, there are a few considerations.
- The coffee grounds you choose to use (if you use them) have to be super fine. I am talking ground to a pulp and then sifted through a fine mesh strainer. If you are worried about coffee clogging the drain but you still want the scent of coffee, check out how to infuse your tallow with coffee in this post.
- Use only what you need. For my body i try to stick to under 1 tbsp total. I also use very warm water to shower. If you prefer a cooler shower, make sure you run the drain with hot water after you are done to make sure there are no clogs.
- Always follow proper plumbing advice (unfortunately I am not a plumber lol)
Can I customize this scrub?
For a fluffier texture, whip your tallow before adding dry ingredients.
Prefer a gentler scrub? Use finely ground sugar or add a bit of jojoba oil.
Swap peppermint for sweet orange, cinnamon, or vanilla for different scent blends.
For a cooling post-shower effect, add a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil.
What is the shelf life?
When stored in an airtight container at room temperature, it should last 2–3 months thanks to the tallow’s stability.
To extend shelf life, avoid getting water into the jar — scoop with a clean, dry spoon each time. (See the shower spoon tip in “how to use this scrub”